U.S. patent application number 10/341439 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-15 for air bag placed in a print cartridge and method for manufacturing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to International United Technology Co. Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hsu, Chen-Wei, Wang, Bo-Hsiang.
Application Number | 20040135856 10/341439 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32681566 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040135856 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu, Chen-Wei ; et
al. |
July 15, 2004 |
AIR BAG PLACED IN A PRINT CARTRIDGE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING
THE SAME
Abstract
An air bag placed in a print cartridge and a method for
manufacturing the same are provided, wherein a layered material
with two faces of different ingredients are utilized. After cutting
and opening of connection holes and air vent holes, flexible
stacking according to the capacity requirement of the air bag and
thermal pressuring are performed. Through the characteristic that
two low-melting-point ingredients can be affixed together but two
high-melting-point ingredients or a low-melting-point ingredient
and a high-melting-point ingredient cannot be affixed together, the
whole air bag can be integrally formed. The air bag forms a
plurality of receiving rooms having connected air vent holes. The
air bag can be folded up to make inflation and deflation, hence
filling up the ink-storage capacity of the print cartridge.
Moreover, the back pressure can be adjusted.
Inventors: |
Hsu, Chen-Wei; (Yung Kang
City, TW) ; Wang, Bo-Hsiang; (Tai Ping City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.
624 NINTH STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Assignee: |
International United Technology Co.
Ltd.
Hsin-Chu
TW
|
Family ID: |
32681566 |
Appl. No.: |
10/341439 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
347/86 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 2/17556 20130101;
B41J 2/17559 20130101; B41J 2/17513 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
347/086 |
International
Class: |
B41J 002/175 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A method for manufacturing an air bag placed in a print
cartridge comprising the steps of: (1) providing a layered material
having two faces of different ingredients; (2) placing a side
membrane with a high-melting-point ingredient facing downwards and
a low-melting-point ingredient facing upwards; (3) placing a
connection membrane with said high-melting-point ingredient facing
downwards and said low-melting-point ingredient facing upwards; (4)
placing a folding membrane with said low-melting-point ingredient
facing downwards and said high-melting-point ingredient facing
upwards; (5) placing a folding membrane with said
high-melting-point ingredient facing downwards and said
low-melting-point ingredient-facing upwards; (6) placing a
connection membrane with said low-melting-point ingredient facing
downwards and said high-melting-point ingredient facing upwards;
(7) placing a side membrane with said low-melting-point ingredient
facing downwards and said high-melting-point ingredient facing
upwards; and (8) performing thermal pressuring to integrally form
the air bag.
2. The method for manufacturing an air bag placed in a print
cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in said step (1), one
face of said layered material adheres said low-melting-point
ingredient, and the other face thereof adheres said
high-melting-point ingredient.
3. The method for manufacturing an air bag placed in a print
cartridge as claimed in claim 2, wherein, in said step (1), said
low-melting-point ingredient is polyethylene, and said
high-melting-point ingredient is polyethylene terephthalate.
4. The method for manufacturing an air bag placed in a print
cartridge as claimed in claim 2, wherein, in said step (1), said
low-melting-point ingredient is polyethylene, and said
high-melting-point ingredient is nylon.
5. The method for manufacturing an air bag placed in a print
cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein a step for cutting
membranes of appropriate size is added between said step (1) and
(2).
6. The method for manufacturing an air bag placed in a print
cartridge as claimed in claim 5, wherein said layered material is
first cut to form side membranes and then cut to form folding
membranes, the peripheral size of said folding membrane corresponds
to that of said side membrane, a connection hole is opened at said
folding membrane, said layered material is subsequently cut to form
connection membranes, the peripheral size of said connection
membrane is larger than the size of said connection hole of said
folding membrane, an air vent hole is opened at said connection
membrane, and the size of said air vent hole is smaller than the
size of said connection hole of said folding membrane.
7. The method for manufacturing an air bag placed in a print
cartridge as claimed in claim 6, wherein, in said step (4), the
periphery of said connection hole of said folding membrane is
lapped at the periphery of said connection membrane, and the
periphery of said folding membrane aligns with the periphery of
said side membrane.
8. The method for manufacturing an air bag placed in a print
cartridge as claimed in claim 7, wherein said folding membrane in
said step (5) aligns with the preceding folding membrane.
9. The method for manufacturing an air bag placed in a print
cartridge as claimed in claim 8, wherein said connection membrane
in said step (6) aligns with the preceding connection membrane.
10. The method for manufacturing an air bag placed in a print
cartridge as claimed in claim 9, wherein, in said step (7), the
periphery of said side membrane aligns with the periphery of said
folding membrane.
11. An air bag placed in a print cartridge, said air bag
comprising: side membranes whose one face adhering a
low-melting-point ingredient and whose other face adhering a
high-melting-point ingredient; folding membranes whose one face
adhering said low-melting-point ingredient and whose other face
adhering said high-melting-point ingredient, the peripheral size of
said folding membrane corresponding to that of said side membrane,
a connection hole being opened at said folding membrane; and
connection membranes whose one face adhering said low-melting-point
ingredient and whose other face adhering said high-melting-point
ingredient, the peripheral size of said connection membrane being
larger than the size of said connection hole of said folding
membrane an air vent hole being opened at said connection membrane;
whereby the periphery of said low-melting-point ingredient of said
side membrane connects the periphery of said low-melting-point
ingredient of said folding membrane to form a first receiving room,
and a last receiving room, the peripheries of said
low-melting-point ingredient of two said folding membranes are
connected together, the periphery of said low-melting-point
ingredient of said connection hole of said folding membrane
connects the periphery of said low-melting-point ingredient of said
connection membrane, the peripheries of said low-melting-point
ingredient of said air vent holes of two said folding membranes are
connected together to form other receiving rooms having connected
air vent holes, a folding type air bag capable of inflating and
deflating is thus formed.
12. The air bag placed in the print cartridge as claimed in claim
11, said print cartridge comprising an upper portion, a first
sidewall, a second sidewall, and a bottom portion, which form an
ink reservoir, said upper portion having an ink-filling hole and an
air vent, said ink-filling hole having a plug, said bottom portion
having a printing head, ink being received in said ink
reservoir.
13. The air bag placed in the print cartridge as claimed in claim
11, wherein said low-melting-point ingredient is polyethylene,
while said high-melting-point ingredient is polyethylene
terephthalate.
14. The air bag placed in the print cartridge as claimed in claim
11, wherein said low-melting-point ingredient is polyethylene,
while said high-melting-point ingredient is nylon.
15. The air bag placed in the print cartridge as claimed in claim
11, wherein said ink reservoir has an elastic component and a
pressing plate, said pressing plate has a first surface and a
second surface, one end of said elastic component is connected to
said first sidewall, the other end thereof is connected to said
first surface of said pressing plate, said second surface of said
pressing plate contacts an outside of said first receiving room of
said air bag, said air bag has also a guide pipe connected to said
air vent of said upper portion.
16. An air bag placed in a print cartridge, said airbag comprising:
side membranes whose one face adhering a low-melting-point
ingredients and whose other face adhering a high-melting-point
ingredient; folding membranes whose one face adhering said
low-melting-point ingredient and whose other face adhering said
high-melting-point ingredient, the peripheral size of said folding
membrane corresponding to that of said side membrane, a connection
hole being opened at said folding membrane; and connection
membranes whose one face adhering said low-melting-point ingredient
and whose other face adhering said high-melting-point ingredient,
the peripheral size of said connection membrane being larger than
the size of said connection hole of said folding membrane, an air
vent hole being opened at said connection membrane; whereby the
periphery of said low-melting-point ingredient of said side
membrane connects the periphery of said low-melting-point
ingredient of said folding membrane to form a first receiving room
and a last receiving room, the peripheries of said
low-melting-point ingredient of two said folding membranes are
connected together, the periphery of said low-melting-point
ingredient of said connection hole of said folding membrane
connects the periphery of said low-melting-point ingredient of said
connection membrane, the peripheries of said low-melting-point
ingredient of said air vent holes of two said folding membranes are
connected together to form other rooms having connected air vent
holes, a folding type air bag capable of inflating and deflating is
thus formed, ink is received in said air bag.
17. The air bag placed in the print cartridge as claimed in claim
16, said print cartridge comprising an upper portion, a first
sidewall, a second sidewall, and a bottom portion, which form an
ink reservoir, said upper portion having an ink-filling hole and an
air vent, said ink-filling hole having a plug, said bottom portion
having a printing head.
18. The air bag placed in the print cartridge as claimed in claim
16, wherein said low-melting-point ingredient is polyethylene,
while said high-melting-point ingredient is polyethylene
terephthalate.
19. The air bag placed in the print cartridge as claimed in claim
16, wherein said low-melting-point ingredient is polyethylene,
while said high-melting-point ingredient is nylon.
20. The air bag placed in the print cartridge as claimed in claim
16, wherein said ink reservoir has an elastic component and two
pressing plates, said pressing plate has a first surface and a
second surface, two ends of said elastic component are connected to
said first surfaces of said two pressing plates, respectively, said
second surfaces of said two pressing plates contact insides of said
first receiving room and said last receiving room of said air bag,
said ink reservoir forms an air-storage capacity while said air bag
forms an ink-storage capacity, a guide pipe is connected to said
ink-filling hole of said upper portion, and an ink-out guide pipe
is connected to said printing head of said bottom portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an air bag placed in a
print cartridge and a method for manufacturing the same and, more
particularly, to a folding type air bag and a method for
manufacturing the same, which applies to a print cartridge of an
inkjet printer to fill its volume and adjust its back pressure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Printers are the primary data output devices among computer
peripherals. Recently, inkjet printers have been developed to have
a high-quality printing effect and a low cost so as to become
standard equipments of computer. One characteristic of an inkjet
printer is its diversified variation of colors. In the design of a
print cartridge including inks of various kinds of colors, the
ink-out smoothness and the consuming rate of ink are taken into
serious consideration.
[0003] A print cartridge comprises an ink reservoir and a printing
head. When not in use, in order to avoid stains or blocking of the
printing head, a back pressure is usually added in the ink
reservoir. That is, when the ink-storage capacity in the ink
reservoir decreases, the back pressure rises to prevent leakage of
ink. When the exterior pressure decreases (e.g. during
transportation high up in the air), it is necessary to keep an
appropriate back pressure in the ink reservoir. When ink gradually
goes out for printing, the back pressure will rise along with
decrease of ink. Once the back pressure exceeds the range of the
ink-out pressure of the printing head (i.e. the back pressure is
larger than the ink-out pressure required for printing texts and
pictures), smooth ink-out actions for printing will no longer be
feasible. When ink gradually runs out, rise of the back pressure
will also let normal ink-out actions for printing be unfeasible,
hence wasting residual ink in the print cartridge.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,030 disclosed a pressure control device.
As shown in FIG. 1, a bubble generator 25a is disposed in an ink
reservoir 15a of a print cartridge 1a. The bubble generator 25a has
a pipe 26a connected with exterior air. A ball 27a is disposed in
the pipe 26a. A gap (not shown) is disposed at the contact portion
of the pipe 26a and the ball 27a. A liquid seal is formed by the
capillary phenomenon to isolate the ink reservoir 15a from exterior
air. Simultaneously, the generated bubble enters into the ink
reservoir timely. When ink goes out for printing, the back pressure
of the ink reservoir 15a will start to rise. When the exterior
pressure is larger than the pressure of the liquid seal, the bubble
will enter into the ink reservoir 15a to lower the back pressure in
the ink reservoir 15a. A liquid seal immediately forms by the
capillary phenomenon to isolate the ink reservoir 15a from exterior
air again. Generation of bubbles of the bubble generator 25a
depends on the surface tension of ink and the design of the gap's
size. Therefore, the design of the bubble generator 25a differs
according to different inks. The pipe 26a needs to be located in
the ink to truly exploit the bubble-generating function. Once the
exterior pressure decreases, leakage of ink cannot be avoided.
[0005] R.O.C. Pat. No. 438,684 disclosed another pressure control
device. As shown in FIG. 2, a print cartridge 1a comprises an upper
portion 11a, a first sidewall 12a, a second sidewalls 13a, and a
bottom portion 14a, which form an ink reservoir 15a. A pressure
adjuster 28a and a bubble generator 25a are disposed in the ink
reservoir 15a. The pressure adjuster 28a has an air bag 10a, a
pressing plate 21a, and a spring 20a. The air bag 10a has a first
receiving room 33a and a second receiving room 34a. The pressing
plate 21a has a first surface 22a and a second surface 23a. One end
of the spring 20a is connected to the first sidewall 12a of the
print cartridge 12a, and the other end thereof is connected to the
first surface 22a of the pressing plate 21a. An outside of the
first receiving room 33a contacts the second surface 23a of the
pressing plate 21a. An air vent hole 32a for free flow of air is
disposed between the first receiving room 33a and the second
receiving room 34a. An outside of the second receiving room 34a
contacts the second sidewall 13a of the print cartridge 1a. The
second receiving room 34a has a guide pipe 24a connected to the
upper portion 11a of the print cartridge 1a to communicate with
exterior air. The bubble generator 25a is disposed at the bottom
portion 14a of the print cartridge 1a. The bubble generator 25a
comprises a pipe 26a, a ball 27a, and an elastic component 29a. The
pipe 26a is disposed at the bottom portion 14a of the print
cartridge 1a to communicate with exterior air. The ball 27a is
disposed at the top of the pipe 26a to prevent air from entering
into the ink reservoir 15a. The elastic component 29a is fixed at
the bottom portion 14a of the print cartridge 1a, and has a first
portion 30a and a second portion 31a. The first portion 30a
contacts the ball 27a. The second portion 31a contacts the first
surface 22a of the pressing, plate 21a of the pressure adjuster
28a. A printing head 19a is disposed at the bottom portion 14a of
the print, cartridge 1a. When the back pressure rises, the air bag
10a of the pressure adjuster 28a inflates to let the pressing plate
21a push the second portion 31a of the elastic component 29a. The
first portion 30a of the elastic component 29a will thus leave from
the ball 27a to lift the ball 27a so that exterior air can enter
into the ink reservoir 15a. A bubble can thus be generated to enter
into the ink reservoir 15a, hence lowering the back pressure. After
the back pressure decreases, the spring 20a will exert a force onto
the pressing plate 21a to deflate the air bag 10a so as to restore
the elastic component 29a. The ball 27a will again prevent air from
entering into the ink reservoir 15a. Therefore, keeping of the back
pressure will not be affected by the surface tension, formed by
different kinds and properties of ink. Moreover, it is not
necessary to precisely design the size of the pipe 26a. However,
the design and manufacturing of the air bag 10a of the pressure
adjuster 28a limits the ink-storage capacity, hence not meeting the
requirement of full usage of ink. Moreover, due to creases formed
by retractile actions of the air bag 10a, the effect of the air bag
10a inflating repetitively and the functions of other devices
disposed in the ink reservoir 15a will be influenced.
[0006] Accordingly, the design of the conventional print cartridge
has inconvenience and drawbacks in practical manufacturing and use.
The present invention aims to resolve the problems in the prior
art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary object of the present invention is to provide an
air bag placed in a print cartridge and a method for manufacturing
the same, whereby the air bag can fill the ink-storage capacity in
the print cartridge so that ink can be used up completely.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
bag placed in a print cartridge and a method for manufacturing the
same, whereby the manufacturing process of the air bag can be
simplified and sped up.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
bag placed in a print cartridge and a method for manufacturing the
same, whereby the proceeding direction of the air bag can be easily
controlled.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
bag placed in a print cartridge and a method for manufacturing the
same, whereby creases will not be generated when the air bag
inflates and then deflates, and the functions of other devices in
the print cartridge will not be easily influenced after the air bag
inflates again.
[0011] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides
an air bag placed in a print cartridge and a method for
manufacturing the same. The method comprises the following
steps.
[0012] (1) A layered material having double faces of different
ingredients is provided;
[0013] (2) A side membrane is placed with a high-melting-point
ingredient facing downwards and a low-melting-point ingredient
facing upwards;
[0014] (3) A connection membrane is placed with the
high-melting-point ingredient facing downwards and the
low-melting-point ingredient facing upwards;
[0015] (4) A folding membrane is placed with the low-melting-point
ingredient facing downwards and the high-melting-point ingredient
facing upwards;
[0016] (5) A folding membrane is placed with the high-melting-point
ingredient facing downwards and the low-melting-point ingredient
facing upwards;
[0017] (6) A connection membrane is placed with the
low-melting-point ingredient facing downwards and the
high-melting-point ingredient facing upwards;
[0018] (7) A side membrane is placed with the low-melting-point
ingredient facing downwards and the high-melting-point ingredient
facing upwards;
[0019] (8) Thermal pressuring is performed to integrally form the
whole air bag.
[0020] The present invention provides an air bag placed in a print
cartridge. The print cartridge comprises an upper portion, a first
sidewall, a second sidewall, and a bottom portion, which form an
ink reservoir. The upper portion has an ink-filling hole and an air
vent. The ink-filling hole has a plug. The bottom portion has a
printing head. Ink is received in the ink reservoir. The air bag
comprises side membranes whose one face adhering a low-melting
point ingredient and whose other face adhering a high-melting-point
ingredient, folding membranes whose one face adhering the
low-melting-point ingredient and whose other face adhering the
high-melting-point ingredient, and connection membrane whose one
face adhering the low-melting-point ingredient and whose other face
adhering the high-melting-point ingredient. The peripheral size of
the folding membrane corresponds to that of the side membrane. A
connection hole is opened at the folding membrane. The peripheral
size of the connection membrane is larger than the size of the
connection hole of the folding membrane. An air vent hole is opened
at the connection membrane. The size of the air vent hole is
smaller than that of the connection hole of the folding membrane.
The periphery of the low-melting-point ingredient of the side
membrane connects the periphery of the low-melting-point ingredient
of the folding membrane to form a first receiving room and a last
receiving room. The peripheries of the low-melting-point ingredient
of two folding membranes are connected together. The periphery of
the low-melting-point ingredient of the connection hole of the
folding membrane connects the periphery of the low-melting-point
ingredient of the connection membrane. The peripheries of the
low-melting-point ingredient of the air vent holes of two folding
membranes are connected together to form other receiving rooms
having connected air vent holes. A folding air bag capable of
inflating and deflating is thus formed. Ink can be received in the
air bag. The ink reservoir forms an air-storage capacity (i.e. an
air tank), while the air bag forms an ink-storage capacity (i.e. an
ink-storage bag).
[0021] The various objects and advantages of the present invention
will be more readily understood from the following detailed
description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in
which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a conventional
print cartridge;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of another
conventional print cartridge;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the manufacturing method of the
present invention;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing air bags the present
invention are arranged in order and integrally formed by thermal
pressuring;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the air bag of the
present invention;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the air bag placed
in a print cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the air bag filling
up the ink reservoir according to the first embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the air bag placed
in a print cartridge according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the present invention provides a
method for manufacturing an air bag placed in a printing cartridge.
The method comprises the following steps.
[0031] (1) A layered material 3 having double faces of different
ingredients is provided;
[0032] One face of the layered material 3 adheres a
low-melting-point ingredient 30 like polyethylene (PE), and the
other face thereof adheres a high-melting-point ingredient 31 like
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or nylon;
[0033] (2) Membranes of appropriate size are cut;
[0034] The layered material 3 is cut to form side membranes 32;
[0035] The layered material 3 is cut to form folding membranes 33.
The peripheral, size of the folding membrane corresponds to that of
the side membrane. A connection hole 35 is opened at the folding
membrane 33;
[0036] The layered material 3 is cut to form connection membranes
34. The peripheral size of the connection membrane 34 is larger
than the size of the connection hole 35 of the folding membrane 33.
An air vent hole 36 is opened at the connection membrane 34. The
size of the air vent hole 36 is smaller than that of the connection
hole 35 of the folding membrane 33;
[0037] (3) The side membrane 32 is placed with the
high-melting-point ingredient 31 (PET) facing downwards and the
low-melting-point ingredient 30 (PE) facing upwards;
[0038] (4) One of the connection membranes 33 is placed with the
high-melting-point ingredient 31 (PET) facing downwards and the
low-melting-point-ingredient 30 (PE) facing upwards;
[0039] (5) One of the folding membrane 33 is placed with the
low-melting-point ingredients 30 (PE) facing downwards and the
high-melting-point ingredient 31 (PET) facing upwards;
[0040] The periphery of the connection hole 35 of the folding
membrane 33 is lapped at the periphery of the connection membrane
34. The periphery of the folding membrane 33 aligns with the
periphery of the side membrane 32. A first receiving room 37 is
thus formed.
[0041] (6) The other folding membrane 33 is placed with the
high-melting-point ingredient 31 (PET) facing downwards and the
low-melting-point ingredient 30 (PE) facing upwards;
[0042] This folding membrane 33 aligns with the preceding folding
membrane 33. That is, the periphery of the connection hole 35 of
this folding membrane 33 aligns with the periphery of the
connection hole 35 of the preceding folding membrane 33;
[0043] (7) The other connection membrane 34 is placed with the
low-melting-point ingredient 30 (PE) facing downwards and the
high-melting-point ingredient 31 (PET) facing upwards;
[0044] This connection membrane 34 aligns with the preceding
connection membrane 34. That is, the periphery of this connection
membrane 34 is lapped at the periphery of the connection hole, 35
of the folding membrane 33, and the periphery of the air vent hole
36 of this connection membrane 34 is lapped at the periphery of the
air vent hole 36 of the preceding connection membrane 34 .
[0045] (8) Steps (4) and (5) are repeated once;
[0046] The connection membrane 34 aligns with the preceding
connection membrane 34, and the folding membrane 33 aligns with the
preceding folding membrane 33. Another receiving room 38 is thus
formed;
[0047] (9) Steps (6) to (8) are repeated;
[0048] The folding membrane 33 aligns with the preceding folding
membrane 33, and the connection membrane 34 aligns with the
preceding connection membrane 33. Other receiving rooms 38 are thus
formed;
[0049] (10) Steps (6) and (7) are repeated once;
[0050] The folding membrane 33 aligns with the preceding folding
membrane 33, and the connection membrane 34 aligns with the
preceding connection membrane 33;
[0051] (11) A side membrane is placed with the low-melting-point
ingredient 30 (PE) facing downwards and the high-melting-point
ingredient 31 (PET) facing upwards;
[0052] The periphery of the side membrane 32 aligns with the
periphery of the folding membrane 33. A last receiving room 39 is
thus formed;
[0053] (12) Thermal pressuring is performed to integrally form the
whole air bag.
[0054] A thermal pressuring device 4 comprises an outer ring
pressuring plane 40 and an inner ring pressuring plane 41. The
outer ring pressuring plane 40 corresponds to the peripheries of
the side membrane 32 and the folding membranes 33. The inner ring
pressuring plane 41 corresponds to the periphery of the connection
membranes 34. The whole air bag 10 is integrally formed by thermal
pressuring once.
[0055] The thermal deformation temperature of the thermal
pressuring process affixes the surfaces of two lapped
low-melting-point gradients (30). The inner side surfaces of the
first receiving room 37 and the last receiving room 39 of the
peripheries of the side membrane 32 and the folding membrane 33 are
fused together. The inner side surfaces of the receiving room 38 of
the peripheries of two, folding membranes 34 are fused together.
The peripheries of the connection membrane 34 and the connection
hole 35 of the folding membrane 33 are fused together. The air vent
holes 36 of two connection membranes 34 adjacent to the receiving
room 38 are fused together so that the receiving rooms 38 of the
air bag 10 can have connected air vent holes 36 to achieve good
strength and air tightness.
[0056] Because of the distinction between the low-melting-point
ingredient 30 (PE) and the high-melting-point ingredient 31 (PET),
thermal pressuring cannot affix the surfaces of two
high-melting-point ingredients 31 (PET) or a high-melting-point
ingredient 31 (PET) and a low-melting point ingredient 30 (PE)
together. For instance, the side membrane 32 and the connection
membrane 34 cannot be fused together. The outer side surfaces of
the receiving room 38 at the peripheries of the two folding
membrane 33 cannot be fused together. Two connection membranes 34
of the same receiving room 38 cannot be fused together. Therefore,
the air bag 10 can be folded up to make actions of inflation and
deflation.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 5, the air bag 10 placed in the print
cartridge 1 of the present invention comprises a side membrane 32,
folding membranes 33, and connection membranes 34.
[0058] One face of the side membrane 32 adheres the
low-melting-point ingredient 30 (PE), and the other face thereof
adheres the high-melting-point ingredient 31 (PET or nylon).
[0059] One face of the folding membrane 33 adheres the
low-melting-point ingredient 30 (PE), and the other face thereof
adheres the high-melting-point ingredient 31 (PET or nylon). The
peripheral size of the folding membrane 33 corresponds to that of
the side membrane 32. The connection hole 35 is opened at the
folding membrane 33.
[0060] One face of the connections membrane 34 adheres the
low-melting-point ingredient 30 (PE), and the other face thereof
adheres the high-melting-point ingredient 31 (PET or nylon). The
peripheral size of the connection membrane 34 is larger than the
size of the connection hole 35 of the folding membrane 33. The air
vent hole 36 is opened at the connection membrane 34. The size of
the air vent hole 36 is smaller than that of the connection hole 35
of the folding membrane 33.
[0061] The periphery of the low-melting-point ingredient 30 (PE) of
the side membrane 32 is connected with the periphery of the
low-melting-point ingredient 30 (PE) of the folding membrane 33 to
form the first receiving room 37 and the last receiving room 39.
The peripheries of the low-melting-point ingredients 30 (PE) of two
folding membranes 33 are connected together. The periphery of the
low-melting-point ingredient 30 (PE) of the connection hole 35 of
the folding membrane 33 and the periphery of the low-melting-point
ingredient 30 (PE) of the connection membrane 34 are connected
together. The peripheries of the low-melting-point ingredient 30
(PE) of the air vent hole 36 of two connection membranes 34 are
connected together, thereby forming other receiving rooms 38 and
having connected air vent holes 36. A folding type air bag 10
capable of making actions of inflation and deflation is thus
formed.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 6, the folding type air bag 10 is disposed
in the print cartridge 1. The print cartridge 1 comprises an upper
portion 11, a first sidewall 12, a second sidewall 13, and a bottom
portion 14, which form an ink reservoir 15. Ink is received in the
ink reservoir 15. The upper portion 11 has an ink-filling hole 16
and an air vent 17. The ink-filling hole 16 has a plug 18. The
bottom portion 14 has a printing head 19. The ink reservoir 15 has
an elastic component 20 and a pressing plate 21. The pressing plate
21 has a first surface 22 and a second surface 23. One end of the
elastic component 20 is connected to the first sidewall 12, while
the other end thereof is connected to the first surface 22 of the
pressing plate 21. The second surface 23 of the pressing plate 21
contacts the outside of the first receiving room 37 of the air bag
10. The of the last receiving room 39 contacts the second sidewall
13. A guide pipe 24 is connected to the air vent 17 of the upper
portion 11.
[0063] When ink is injected and the plug 18 is closed, the elastic
component 20 will exert a force onto the air bag 10 to keep a back
pressure so as to form an initial value of the back pressure in the
print cartridge 1, hence avoiding leakage of ink. When the exterior
pressure decreases, the elastic component 20 will exert a force
onto the pressing plate 21 to push the air bag 10. The ink-storage
capacity in the ink reservoir 15 thus increases to enlarge the back
pressure so that the printing head 19 will have no ink leakage
phenomenon. When ink goes out for printing, the back pressure
rises, and the air bag 10 inflates to push the pressing plate 21 to
press the elastic component 20 downwards, hence decreasing the ink
storage capacity in the ink reservoir 15. The back pressure can
thus be controlled within the range of ink-out pressure of the
printing head 19 for normal ink-out actions. As shown in FIG. 7,
when the air bag 10 arrives its maximum volume, the air bag 10 will
almost fill up the ink reservoir 15 to reduce residual ink to
minimum.
[0064] Moreover, there are four receiving rooms being formed in the
embodiment just for explanation. In practice, the present invention
also can be realized with two or more than two receiving rooms.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 8, the folding type air bag 10 is disposed
in the print cartridge 1. The print cartridge 1 comprises an upper
portion 11, a first sidewall 12, a second sidewall 13, and a bottom
portion 14, which form an ink reservoir 15. Ink is received in the
ink reservoir 15. The upper portion 11 has an ink-filling hole 16
and an air vent 17. The ink-filling hole 16 has a plug 18. The
bottom portion 14 has a printing head 19. The ink reservoir 15 has
an elastic component 20 and two pressing plates 21. The pressing
plate 21 has a first surface 22 and a second surface 23. Two ends
of the elastic component 20 are connected to the first surfaces 22
of the two pressing plates 21, respectively. The two second
surfaces 23 of the two pressing plates 21 contact insides of the
first receiving room 37 and the last receiving room 39 of the air
bag 10. Ink is received in the air bag 10. The ink reservoir 1
forms an air-storage capacity (i.e. an air tank), and the air bag
10 forms an ink-storage capacity (i.e. an ink-storage bag). The
outside of the last receiving room 39 of the air bag 10 (i.e. the
ink-storage bag) contacts the second sidewall 13. A guide pipe 24
is connected to the ink-filling hole 16 of the upper portion 11. An
ink-out guide pipe 25 is connected to the printing head 19 at the
bottom portion 14.
[0066] When ink is injected and the plug 18 is closed, ink fills up
the air bag 10 (i.e. the ink-storage bag), and the air bag 10 (i.e.
the ink-storage bag) almost fills up the ink reservoir 15 of the
print cartridge 1 so as to form an initial value of the back
pressure, hence avoiding leakage of ink. When the exterior pressure
decreases the elastic component 20 will exert a force onto the
pressing plate 21s to lead the air bag 10 (i.e. the ink-storage
bag) to inflate. The ink-storage capacity in the air bag 10 (i.e.
the ink-storage bag) thus increases to enlarge the back pressure so
that the printing head 19 will have no ink leakage phenomenon. When
ink goes out for printing, the back pressure rises, and the
air-storage capacity of the ink reservoir 15 (i.e. the air tank)
increases to push the pressing plates 21 to press the elastic
component 20 downwards, hence deflating the air bag 10 (i.e. the
ink-storage bag) to decrease the ink-storage capacity in the air
bag 10 (i.e. the ink-storage bag). The back pressure can thus be
controlled within the range of ink-out pressure of the printing
head 19 for normal ink-out actions. When ink in the air bag 10
almost runs out, air will fill up the ink reservoir 15 to shrink
the air bag 10 to its smallest volume, hence reducing residual ink
to minimum.
[0067] To sum up, the air bag placed in a print cartridge and a
method for manufacturing the same of the present invention has the
following characteristics.
[0068] (1) The foldable characteristic of the air bag forms a
plurality of receiving rooms so that the air bag can fill up the
ink-storage capacity in the print cartridge. Ink can thus be used
up completely.
[0069] (2) Through the characteristic of two ingredients having
different melting points at two faces of the layered material used
by the air bag the whole air bag can be integrally formed by
thermal pressuring once, hence speeding up the manufacturing
process, simplifying the components, and facilitating the
design.
[0070] (3) The receiving rooms of the air bag are orderly and
densely arranged so that the proceeding direction of the air bag
can be easily controlled.
[0071] (4) Because the size of the periphery of the folding
membranes of the air bag is small, no creases will be generated
when the air bag inflates and then deflates. Therefore, the
functions of other components in the print cartridge will not be
easily influenced when the air bag inflates again.
[0072] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be
understood that the invention is not limited to the details
thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been
suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to
those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such
substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within
the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *